Phalaenopsis plant named (Golden Buddha×Pearlie) ‘Pine Ridge-A’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Phalaenopsis Orchid plant named (Golden Buddha×Pearlie) ‘Pine Ridge-A’ which produces flowers which are pastel yellow with pink centers and orange red labellum. The flowers are carried on short, sturdy, and upright racemes. The flowers are long lasting. The foliage is compact, very dark green, and glossy. Plants of the new cultivar grow quickly to marketable size. The above features combined make the new cultivar particularly well-suited to commercial production and marketing practices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis Orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name,(Golden Buddha×Pearlie) ‘Pine Ridge-A’. The new cultivar may be marketedunder the name Golden Silk.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials; many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis are predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and are native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically have 2-ranked fleshyoblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticulturaltrade, are used as cut flowers for the florist trade, or sold asflowering potted plants for the home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produce upright or pendent lateral flowering racemes, oftenwith many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals, and three petals, thelateral ones are similar. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis Orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and planted in asuitable substrate. Phalaenopsis Orchids may also be asexuallyreproduced by tissue culture.

The new cultivar was discovered by the Inventor within the progeny of across of the parent plants listed below that was made in May, 1994. Thenew cultivar was selected by the Inventors as a flowering plant in acontrolled environment in Homestead, Fla. in Apr., 1997.

Since September, 1997, asexual propagation by tissue culture in alaboratory in Sebring, Fla. has been used to increase the number ofplants for evaluation and has demonstrated that the unique combinationof characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of the new cultivar which in combinationdistinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flowers of the new cultivar are pastel yellow in color and centrallymarked with pink. The labellum is orange red in color.

2. Inflorescences of the new cultivar are very short, upright and sturdyand require little support, that is, staking.

3. Leaves of the new cultivar are broadly elliptic, relatively short inlength, very dark green, and glossy.

4. Plants of new cultivar grow quickly and uniformly.

5. Plants of the new cultivar flower early, producing marketableflowering plants in about 11 months.

Plants of the new cultivar have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, anddaylength, without however, any change in genotype.

Plants of the new cultivar differ primarily from plants of the parentcultivars in petal and sepal color. Perhaps the closest commercialcomparison to the new cultivar can be made to seedling-derivedPhalaenopsis Orchids which are heterogeneous genetically, and typicallylack uniformity in growth vigor, plant growth habit, and flower quality.Since this reference point has inconsistent characteristics, a directcomparison for (Golden Buddha×Pearlie) ‘Pine Ridge-A’ is not available.The new cultivar is a single genotype asexually-propagated via tissueculture; thus its combined horticultural characteristics listed aboveare uniform and predictable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Colors in the photographs may appear different from the color valuesthat appear in the detailed botanical description which more accuratelydescribe the new cultivar.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of the new cultivar grown in a 15-cm container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of the new cultivar. The plant depicted in thesephotographs is the original seedling selection grown for about threeyears under appropriate growing conditions.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

All color references are measured against The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, (1995 edition). Colors and numerical measurementsare approximate as plant growth and development depends on horticulturalpractices such as light level, temperature, water status andfertilization rate, among others, without, however any change ingenotype.

Plants used for the description were 1 to 3 years old and grown in 15-cmcontainers in Homestead, Fla., in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse withday temperatures about 78 to 96° F., night temperatures about 60 to 82°F., and light levels below 1,000 foot-candles. Information for thisdescription was taken during the winter, 2001.

Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis (Golden Buddha×Pearlie) cultivarPine Ridge-A.

Parentage: Seedling selected from a cross of the following:

Seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar Golden Buddha.

Pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar Pearlie.

The name of the cross listed above has not been recorded by The RoyalHorticultural Society to date.

Propagation:

Type.—Asexual propagation by tissue culture.

Time to initiate and elongate roots.—Summer: About 28 days at 82 to 96°F. Winter: About 42 days at 60 to 78° F.

Time to produce a fully rooted young plant.—Summer: About 120 days at 82to 96° F. Winter: About 180 days at 60 to 78° F.

Root description.—Very thick, fleshy, and greenish white in color.

Plant description: Under appropriate growing conditions, plants of thenew cultivar attain a mature size of about 12 to 15 cm in height andabout 30 to 36 cm in width.

Leaf description:

Form.—Leaves are elliptic or obovate with obtuse apex and cuneate base;margins, entire. The leaf blade is flat or slightly folded upward fromthe midrib. The upper leaf surface is very glossy; the lower leafsurface is dull. The leaves are leathery, very stiff, thick, andglabrous.

Size.—Leaf blades of a mature-sized plant are about 16 to 20 cm inlength and about 7.3 to 9.2 cm in width.

Veins.—Veins are sunken within the lamina.

Color.—Adaxial surface: Greener than, but closest to 139A. Abaxialsurface: Greener than, but closest to 147B.

Flower/inflorescence description:

Description.—The sepals and petals are pastel yellow in color, with pinkmarkings at the base. The sepals are elliptic to ovate in shape, thelateral petals are broadly ovate with a rounded apex. The sepals andpetals are flat or slightly cupped. The labellum is deeply three-lobedwith two prominent callosities at the central junction of the laterallobes and base of the midlobe. The lateral lobes of the labellum foldupward about the column, the midlobe extends forward and is terminatedby two short appendages at the apex. The lateral lobes of the labellumare obovate in shape, the midlobe is triangular. The labellum is orangered in base color with spots and stripes of dark red purple in thecenter. The callosities are yellow with dark red-purple spots andstripes. The appendages terminating the midlobe are pale yellow to whitein color.

Dimensions.—Flower: About 8.5 to 9.2 cm wide, about 7.7 to 8.8 cm high.Sepals: About 4.5 to 4.9 cm long, about 3.2 to 3.7 cm wide. Petals:About 4 to 4.5 cm long, about 4.5 to 5 cm wide. Labellum: About 2.5 to2.7 cm long, about 2 cm wide (not flattened).

Coloration.—Sepals: Adaxial surface: 154D to 4D, flushed with 185C to185D at base. Abaxial surface: 154C to 154D, tinged with much lighterthan, but closest to 185D at base. Dorsal sepal margin, 4D. LateralPetals: Adaxial surface: Yellow, 2D, flushed and speckled with 185C to185D at base. Abaxial surface: Yellow, 2D; tinged with much lighterthan, but closest to 185D at base. Labellum: Adaxial surface: 23C withlighter than, but closest to 185D, marginally. Center of labellumstreaked and spotted with 185A to 59A. Appendages at apex of midlobe,11D to 155D. Callosities: 12C specked with 60A. Abaxial surface: 158D,tinged in center and along margins with 185D.

Raceme.—Dimension: The raceme is typically staked upright to a height ofabout 45 cm from bsae to tip, and about 6 mm in diameter at itsmidpoint. About 4 to 6 flowers are produced on each raceme. One or twobranch spikes, containing 3 to 5 flowers/buds are typically produced.The raceme is 147A tinged with 187A in color.

Quantity of flowers and time to flower.—For an untreated plant asdepicted in the photograph on the first sheet which is flowering for the4th time, about 18 flowers and unopened buds are present. Floweringstarts about 5 to 8 months after planting 12-week old liners; first timeflowering plants produce about 4 to 6 flowers per raceme.

Flower longevity.—Individual flowers maintain good substance andcoloration for about two months on the plant. Inflorescences are inflower for about 3 to 5 months on the plant.

Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new cultivar typically flowerduring the winter and early spring in Southern Florida.

Reproductive organs: The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into asingle short structure called the column, possessing one terminal antherwith pollen grains united into a pollinia, which are covered by ananther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the pollinia.Ovary inferior, three carpels present.

Column.—The column is about 1 cm long, about 6.5 mm wide, and 155D incolor.

Pollinia.—Two oval masses of pollen present, about 1 mm in diameter, and21A to 21B in color.

Stigma.—Concave, sticky rectangular area, under column, about 4 mm by 3mm in size, and 155D in color.

Ovary.—About 1.7 cm long, about 3 mm diameter, and 145C in color.

Pedicel.—About 2.3 cm long, about 3 mm in diameter, and lighter than,but closest to 146D in color.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new cultivar have been observed totolerate temperatures from 45 to 105° F.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new cultivar have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to PhalaenopsisOrchids.

General observations: Plants of (Golden Buddha×Pearlie) ‘Pine-Ridge-A’produce flowers which are pastel yellow with pink centers. The flowersare carried on short, sturdy, and upright racemes. The flowers are longlasting. The foliage is compact, very dark green, and glossy. The plantgrows quickly to marketable size.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis Orchidplant named (Golden Buddha×Pearlie) ‘Pine Ridge-A’, as illustrated anddescribed.